Switched on Bach

Walter Carlos - "Switched-On Bach" (1968) - Columbia Masterworks

Hello Friends,

We're keeping it classy again today on Vinyl in the Valley with some modern interpretations of J.S. Bach's most popular works.

Switched-On Bach is groundbreaking in many ways, but most especially in its use of the Moog Synthesizer as the primary instrument in interpreting the complex and multi-layered Baroque classics.  It sold over a million copies and remains one of the highest selling classical LP's of all time.  It also received critical praise and a multitude of accolades, including 3 Grammy Awards.

Listening to this record, we're instantly reminded of the soundtrack music to Stanley Kubrick films, specifically Clockwork Orange and The Shining.  

Well, whattayouknow, a little research has revealed that Walter Carlos did in fact do the soundtrack to Kubrick's 1971 film A Clockwork Orange and Wendy Carlos (Walter's wife or sister, maybe?) did the postmodern classical soundtrack for Kubrick's 1980 adaptation of Stephen King's The Shining.  

(cue record scratch)

Oh, wait.  Wendy Carlos is Walter Carlos!  The composer-musician underwent gender re-assignment surgery in 1972 making her the quite the groundbreaker in more ways than one.  Not only did she help revolutionize early electronic music, but she underwent sex change surgery WAAAY before it was something that society even had an inkling of understanding, dealing with and discussing.  Suck on that Caitlyn Jenner! 

We're drinking one for you today Wendy Carlos!

RATING: 4.5 brandenburg concertos out of 5